Ironing machine



Jan. 15, 1929.

J. PRACHAR IRONING MAGHI NE Filed April 15, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet Jan. 15, 1929.

J. PRACHAR IRQNING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1925 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill/ afforueqs Jan. 15, 1929. v 1,699,310

' J. PRACHAR IRONING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 15, 1929.

J; PRACHAR IRONING MACHINE Filed April 15. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet v 4 ,QM' w Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JOHN PBACHAB, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO PRACHAR MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF- OHIO.

momma MAonrnn.

Application filed April 15, 1925. Serial No. 23,198.

This invention relates to ironing machines, andis an improvement over the ironing machine constituting the subject matter of my prior application, Serial No. 686,943, filed January 18, 1924.

In the application above referred to, I disclose an ironing machine having a. rotatable cylinder or roll, and a heating shoe adapted to be moved toward and from the roll. The roll is rotated and the shoe is swung to and from the roll by power, and preferably a single motor is utilized for these purposes. By means of a suitable clutch and a controlling member connected to it, the motor is temporarily 35 connected to the shoe so as to swing it either up to the roll or away from the roll, the clutch being automatically disengaged when the shoe is in either of its extreme positions. Additionally, provision is made for automatically disengaging certain parts in the drivebetween the motor and roll when the shoe is swung back to inoperative position, the engagement and disengagement of these parts being also manually controllable so that the rotation of 95 the roll can be stopped at will.

Une of the objects of the present invention is to simplify andjmprove the construction, particularly insofar as the power operation of the shoe is concerned.

Another obj ect is to provide a safety guard which will prevent the shoe coming in con tact with the roll it there is an obstruction between the shoe and roll, such as the fingers of the operator. in other words, it is one of the objects to provide a safety device which'will prevent or at least minimize the danger of injury to the hands or fingers of the operator by being squeezed between the shoe and roll when the shoe is being moved by power into contact with the roll.

The above and other objects are attained by my invention which may be here summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction, and combinations and arrangements of'parts which will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings wherein I have shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view; Fig. 4

. is another transverse sectional view omitting some of the parts, but showing the shoe in cohtact with the roll, whereas in Fig. 2 the shoe is shown swung back to its inoperative position; Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the machine looking at the rear side thereof, or to the right of Fig. 4, this view showing particularly part of the shoe operating parts; Fig. 6 is another rear View on a slightly reduced scale with part of the machine broken away and showing also the upper mechanism not shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a detail view of a portion of the slotted link used in shifting the ,safety guard; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clutch employed in the drive or transmission between the motor and shoe; and

9 is a transverse sectional view substant-1a 1y along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

The ironing machine includes the usual table 10, from the ends of which standards 11 arise, these standards supporting a cloth-covered rotatable roll 12, and a feed-board 13,

which can be swung from operative position otal connection being indicated at 16. The

levers 15, which are actuated in a manner hereinafter described, are mounted to turn on a stationary shaft 17. supported in the rear portions of the. standards 11.

Mounted on the under side of the table 10 is a motor 18 which rotates the roll 12 and swings the shoe 14 to vary its operative position. The motor shaft is coupled to a worm shaft, which through worm and worm wheel gearing contained within a housing or'casing 19 (see Fig. 3) drives a shaft at right anglesthereto, this shaft being indicated by dotted lines at 20. One end of this shaft 20 is utilized to rotate the roll 12 through a drive mechanism, which may be precisely like that shown in-my prior application, a portion of this drive mechanism being shown in Fig. 3, and the same being encased in a housing 21 (see Figs.

1, 3 and 6) at one end of the table. The other end of the shaftQO through a clutch 22 is adapted to rotate a normally stationary shaft 23, which actuates the shoe 14, this shaft 23 beingprovided at its outer end with a crankarm 24 connected by a breakable link 25, composed of two normally aligned parts to be referred to, to a crank or lever arm 26, fixed to a rock-shaft 27 near the middle thereof (see Figs. 3 and The rock-shaft is supported along the rear side of and beneath the table 10, in bearings 27 carried by table and by thelegs 10 on which the table is supported, as best indicated in Figs. 5 and 6'.

Shaft 27 is additionally provided near its ends with crank-arms 28 which are connected by adjustable links 29 to the bell-crank members attached to the shoe 14, as previously explained.

Any suitable type of clutch 22 may be employed, which when engaged, will rotate shaft 23 through a half revolution and will then be disengaged so as to cause the shoe 14 to be swung from inoperative position (see Fig. 2) up to the drum 12 (see Fig. 4) or from the position shown in Fig. 4, back to the position shown in Fig. 2. In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a form ofclutch which operates effectively, this clutch being of the rods ing-key type, and including a clutch member 22 which is secured to "shaft 20, and a clutch member 22 which is secured to shaft 23, clutch member 22 being in the form of a sleeve which rotates constantly as long as-the motor is in operation, and the clutch member 22 being normally stationary, but being adapted, as aforesaid, to make periodic half revolutions when the clutch is engaged. With the form of clutch shown, the clutch member 22 carries a rocking-key 22 which is adapted when rocked, to engage a bushing 22 in the well-known manner, this bushing 22 being housed in and keyed to clutch member 22. The key 22 has an outwardly projectin end 22 which is adapted to engage either 0 two clutch releasing members 30 and 31, and when released from either of these members, the key is rocked by a spring 22 to position to be engaged by bushing 22 so as to form a driving connection between the two clutch members. This type of clutch is well-known, and therefore requires no further consideration.

The two clutch operating members 30 and 31 have their operative ends on opposite sides of clutch 22 and they are disposed 180 apart, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 9. They are pivotally connected together at 32 (see Fig. 2), and additionally the member 30 is pivotally connected at 33 to a bracket on the under side of the table, while the member 31 has a pin and slot connection indicated at 34, with another bracket on the under side of the table. The member 30 is in the form of a rod projecting forwardly toward the front of the table, as indicated in Fig. 2, and from this figure it will be noted that when the front end of rod 30 is depressed so as to rock the rod mal position is brought about by a spring 35' (see Fig. 2) engaging rod 30.

The clutch 22 is controlled bythe operator through the medium of a rod 36, which is arranged at the front of the table beneath the same, and extends for substantially the full length of the table, this red being designed to be swung upward, either by the knee or hand of the operator when standing in front of the machine. The rod 36 is carried by a pair of arms 37, supported in brackets depending from the lower side of the table, as.

best indicated in Fig. 1. One of these arms has two extensions 38 and 39 (see Fig. 2) the former overhanging the forward end of rod 30. Obviously when rod 36-is elevated, the extension 38 is swung downward, depressing the forward end of rod 30. This, as previously explained, spreads the inner ends of the two clutch operating members or rods 30 and 31, causing the clutch to be engaged and to be again disengaged after clutch member 22 and shaft 23 have made a half revolution, assuming that the operating rod 36 is released after being elevated, so that the inner ends of clutch operating rods 30 and 31 will be restored to normal or clutch disengaging position before the half revolution referred to 'is completed. In this manner the shoe 14 is brought up to the roll 12 and remains there until the clutch is again operated, or is swung from its position in engagement with the roll, back to its inoperative position and remains there until the clutch is again operated.

Itwill be noted that the operating or driving connection between the clutch driven shaft 23 and the shoe consists of a series of crank-arms and links, and that while crank 24 on the end of shaft 23 makes successive half revolutions in the same direction, shaft 27 and the crank or lever-arms 26 and 28 are rocked back and forth, first in one direction and then the other.

It will be noted that the breakable link 25 is composed of two parts 25 and 25 which are normally held in substantial alignment in fixed position by a spring 25. Provision is made whereby these parts may be broken like toggle links, to permit the shoe 14 to table and crosswise thereof, a rod 40, whose rear end is mounted to turn on shaft 27 (see Figs. 2 and 3), and-whose forward end is normally and loosely received in a spring holder 41 depending from the under side of the table, as best shown in Fig. 1. Rod-40 is provided with an upstanding portion 42 having a laterally bent end normally extending over the top of link 25. Obviously if the forward or free end of rod 40 is swung-downward, pressure is exerted on the two-part toggle link from above, so as to break it and perwit the shoe 14 to be moved by hand if the motor is ineffective for lack of current, or for any other reason. 7

To restore the link 25 toits working condi tion, the operator will swing rod up 'to normal position and manually straighten link 25. To prevent injuryto the operator by having his or her hands squeezed between the roll and the power-closcd shoe 14, if through ignorance or accident the operators hand should be resting on the roll in the path of the oncoming shoe, I provide a safety guard composed of a rod 43, mounted on the upper ends of two arms 44, which are just beyond the ends of the shoe 14, these arms having their lower portions mounted on shaftll'. Provision is made for swinging the guard rod 43 downward into engagement with the drum when the clutch operating rod 36 is operated to cause clutch 22 to be engaged to swing the shoe forwardly into contact with the drum from the position shown in Fig. 2

to the position shown in Fig. 4, and the parts are so arranged that unless the guard rod 43 is free to swing down into contact with the drum, the clutch 22 cannot be engaged so as to causekthe power connection to be established between the motor and the shoe. This is accomplished in the following manner: To extension 39 of arm 37 supporting-one end of the operating rod 36 (see Fig. 2) a rod 45 is extended rearwardly beneath the table, this rod having an elongated slot 46 with an extension 46 shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 7. Slot 46 or. its extension. 46 is enga ed by a pin 47 of a slotted arm 48 carried by a sleeve 48 mounted to'rotate on shaft 27 (see Figs. 2 and 5). This sleeve has a second and longer arm 48 oppositely disposed with respect to the .arm 48 and this arm is connected by a link 49 to a lever arm 50 of a sleeve 51 journaled on shaft 17 and integral with, or secured to one of the arms 44 supporting the safety guard rod 43. of the bar 36, the pin 47 is in engagement with the extension 46= of the slot 46 so that rearward movement of the rod 45, when the bar 36 is elevated to engage the clutch 22,

moves the arm 48 forwardly and through the arm 48, link 49, and arm 50,-rocks the shaft 17 to swing the rod 43-forwardly toward the roll.

In the normal position It will thus be seen that there is a direct operative connection between the clutch operating the rod 36 at the front of the machine and the guard rod 43, and the arrangement is such that when the operating rod 36 is swung upward to cause the clutch 22 to become enoperating rod 36 is stopped before it has i moved upwardly far enough to cause the release of the clutch pawl and the engagement of the clutch. When this occurs, the operator will naturally remove his or her hands from beneath. the guardrod 43, so as to permit the further upward movement of operating rod 36 and the engagement of the clutch.

When theclutch is engaged so that the shoe begins to swing toward the roll 12, the guard rod is automatically swung upward, and this is accomplished in the following manner: I secure to shaft 27, close to sleeve 48, (see Fig. 5) a sleeve 52 having two oppositely extending fingers 52k and 52', both having laterally extending portions. The arrangement is such that as the shaft 27 is turned to swing shoe 14 toward the roll 12, but before its full travel is completed, the

lot)

lower and longer finger 52 on sleeve 52 en-,

on link 49 and swing guard rod 43 away from roll 12, or to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 2. This takes-place while the shoe 14 is moving toward the roll 12, and immediately after guard rod 43 is swung upward, shoe 14 comes into engagement with roll 12, this then being followed by the disengagement of clutch 22 which stops the motion.

The operation is as follows: The motor 18 is started by a suitable switch on the table 10, and when the manual clutch, which is in the drive between'the motor shaft 20 and the roll is thrown in (as fully explained in my'prior application), the roll is rotated by the motor. When the operator desires to have the shoe move up to the roll, he will raise operating rod 36, and then release it so that it may drop. The upward movement of the operating rod shifts the clutch releasing members 30 and 31, causing the clutch to be temporarily engaged and to be disengaged when the shaft i a further half revolution in the same direc'' tion as before, and by the described transmitting means the shoe is moved back to its inoperative position, this movement stopping on the disengagement of clutch 22.

As before stated, should the 'motor'be ineffective to move the shoe away from the roll, it is'only necessary for the operator to break the joint between the two parts of link 25, and to move the shoe back by hand.

When the operator elevates clutch operating rod 36 to cause the shoe to be moved into engagement with the roll 12, this movement of the rod through the parts 39, 45, 48*, 48, 48

49, 50 and 51 brings theguard down into engagement with the roll, the guard engaging the roll immediately in advance, or just'in front of the location of the top edge of the shoe'when it is in engagement with the roll. Ifthe hand of the operator should be on the roll beneath the guard, and therefore in position to be squeezed by the shoe, if the guard were not present, the clutch operating rod 36 cannot be moved high enough to cause the engagement of the clutch, but when the operators hand or other obstruction beneath the guard is removed so as to permit the full upward stroke of the clutch operating rod, the clutch is engaged, and the movement of the shoe started toward the roll, but before the shoe engages the roll, the part 52"which moves with the rock-shaft 27 engages under the slotted-end of link 45 and elevates it out of the extension 46 of slot 46 of the link. Immediately after, the part 52 engages the extension 4810f member. 48 and rocks part 48 so as to positively pull down on link 49, and thus swing the guard to its inoperative position.

" When the clutch operating rod 36 is next elevated to cause the shoe to be moved away from the roll, the guard is not swung downward because the part 52, then in the position shown in Fig. '4, prevents the pin 47 from re-engaging in the notch 46 of slot 46, but

when the shoe moves back to inoperative position and the part 52 allows the slotted end of the link to drop down, the re-engagement between the pin 47 and the notch 46 of slot 46 takes place, so that onthe next actuation of the clutch operating rod 36, the parts are in position to actuate the guard, as previously explained. p

As in my prior application, I prefer when engage the clutch the shoe is moved back to inoperative position, that the rotation of the roll 12 be stopped by the disengagement of the clutch in the drive between the motor and roll, this being accomplished by an extension 53 at one end of the shoe (see Fi 6), arranged so as to isengaging member 54 (see Figs. 2 and 6). These particular parts form no part of the present invention inasmuch as they are identical with the construction shown in my prior application. Hence no further description is thought to be neces sary.

Having described my invention, I claim: In an ironing machine, a rotatable roll and a shoe relatively movable to cause their engagement and disengagement, power means for causing said relative movement, a safety guard mounted for movement toward and away from the roll, and means for shifting saidguard toward and from the roll prior to engagement of the shoe and roll.

2. In an ironing machine, a rotatable roll, a power-operated shoe at the rear of said roll movable toward and from the same, a safety guard extending along the upper edge of the shoe, and means whereby the guard is automatically moved down to the roll forwardly of the shoe prior to the movement of the shoe toward roll-engaging position.

3. In an ironin machine, a rotatable roll, a power-operated shoe movable. toward and from the roll, a safety guard, and means whereby the guard is caused to move down to the roll and then away from the rollbefore the latter is engaged by the shoe.

4. In an ironing machine, a-rotatable roll,

a shoe movable toward and from the roll, power means for actuating it, control means for the power means, a safety guard movable toward and from the roll forwardly of the shoe and operatively connected with the control means for movement toward the roll upon movement of the control means to cause the shoe to be moved toward the roll, and means for shifting said guard away from the roll prlilor tothe engagement of the shoe with the ro 5. In an ironing machine, a rotatable roll and a shoe relatively movable to cause their engagement and disengagement, power means for causing said relative movement, control means for the power means, a safety guard movable toward and from the shoe, and means whereby the guard is moved toward the roll by the control means and away from said roll by said power means.

6. In an ironing machine, a rotatable roll and a shoe relatively movable to cause their engagement and disengagement, power means forcausing said relative movement, control means for the power means, a safety guard movable toward and from the shoe, means whereby the guard is moved toward the roll by the control means and is automatically trolling member for shifting the moved awa from the roll durin the. relative movement tween the shoe an roll which brings them into operative relation.

7 In an ironing machine, a rotary roll and a shoe relatively movable toward and from each other, a motor for causing said relative movement, actuatin means between the motor and one of said fIrst-named parts to cause the relative movement and including a clutch, a clutch-controlling member, a safety guard movable toward and from the roll, means operatively connected with the clutch conuard toward the roll, and means operate b said actuating means for shifting the guar away from the roll.

8. In an ironing machine, a rotary roll and a shoe relatively movable toward and frommovable toward an from the roll and opera-' tively connected with the clutch-controlling member, and means whereby said actuating means causes the outward movement of the guard when the shoe and roll are approaching each other.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my 80 signature.

; JOHN PRACHAR. 

